Humane Society of Wilkes | Foster Parent Application

Foster/Adoption Objective

Our objective is to rescue as many homeless pets as we have foster homes for, one at a time. Unfortunately, we cannot rescue every animal that is in need within the county. Our priority is to take high-risk dogs and cats from the Wilkes County Animal Shelter. As space allows, we will also take animals from other shelters and occasionally directly from owners.* And we reserve space in case a former foster is returned.

Being a foster volunteer doesn’t have to involve committing to long-term animal care. Short-term opportunities are available for those who wish to work directly with foster animals but have limited time or resources. Volunteers need to become HSOW members if they aren't already.

*Please note we cannot legally accept stray animals; per NC law they have to complete a 72-hour stray hold through Wilkes County Animal Services.

Becoming an HSOW Foster Home

Long-term foster pet care can include, but is not limited to:

Caring for a foster animal in your home until it is adopted.
Providing daily care for a foster animal, ensuring that they receive adequate food, water, shelter, exercise, and/or medical treatment.
Assisting with house, kennel, and/or obedience training, depending on the animal’s needs.
Improving animal socialization and overall adaptability.
Transporting foster animal(s) to/from vet appointments and foster events.
Reviewing adoption applications for approval and maintaining communication with those applicants regarding the status of the pet.
Saying good-bye to the pet when a suitable home is found.

Short-term foster care can include, but is not limited to:

Temporarily housing (overnight or up to two weeks) a foster animal to provide relief to existing foster homes or relief to the animal itself by offering time away from a kenneled environment.
Assisting with house, crate, or obedience training.
Assisting with foster animal transportation, weekly or as needed.

Other volunteer opportunities that include working directly with animals:

Assisting with TNR transportation, monthly or as needed
Transportation of cats to the vet, PetSmart, or HSOW building
Providing daily care for HSOW cats in boarding
Providing daily care for cats being housed at the PetSmart Adoption Center
Attending public events to help with animal supervision
Assisting foster homes with foster pet care
Photographing available foster pets
Assisting with bathing/grooming needs of HSOW foster pets

If anything on these lists inspires you to volunteer to foster or help with HSOW foster pets, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for information on how to get started. If you would like to be a short- or long-term foster home, please fill out the application below. Be sure to fill in all required fields; you can use “n/a” as a placeholder if needed.

Foster Home Application

Your First and Last Name(*)

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Preferred Phone Number(*)

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Email Address(*)

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Address(*)

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City(*)

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State(*)

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Zip Code(*)

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Are you 18 Years or Older?

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How many children are in the household, and what are their ages?(*)

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Do all persons in the household agree with the decision to be a foster home?(*)

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How long have you been involved with animals?(*)

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List type of experience/skills you have with dogs, and/or cats(*)

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Do you have any experience house training or crate training?(*)

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List breeds you have had experience with(*)

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Name of your most recent veterinarian?

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Phone Number of your most recent veterinarian

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List animals in your home with the information requested in the form(*)

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What type of assistance are you willing to participate in?

Long Term Foster (until pet is adopted)

Short Term Foster (over night to 2 weeks)

Vet/Shelter Pick-Up

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Reference Checks

Home Checks

Transport (list how far in next field)

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How far are you willing to transport (if selected above)?

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Where animal will be kept most often?

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(Ex. Fenced yard, Crate, Kennel, Chain, In Home, etc.)

Do you live in a...(*)

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If other, please explain

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If renting, do you have landlord’s permission to keep a pet?

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Landlord's First and Last Name

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Landlord's Phone Number

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Please feel free to write anything else that you would like us to know about you as a pet owner and/or about your plans for caring for this pet

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Electronic Signature(*)

I understand that it is my decision to assist in the care of any particular animal. I will evaluate the potential foster animal myself and have the approval of two other Adoption Committee Members before bringing the animals into my home. I will not hold the Humane Society of Wilkes Foster Adoption Members, The Humane Society of Wilkes, their board of directors, officers, members, or agents responsible for any damage, actions, or liability of any kind whatsoever arising as a result of, or in connection with animals entering into my care as approved foster animals. Read, understood and agree: Invalid Input

Drivers License #(*)

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(*)

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Interested in becoming an HSOW foster home?

Foster/Adoption Objective

Becoming an HSOW Foster Home

Foster Home Application